Sampler for highly radioactive substances



Oct. 16, 1951 w. Q. SMITH SAMPLER FOR HIGHLY RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1949 v INVENTOR. Wave/(y Q. Smith BY 7llllll vOct. 16, 1951 w $M|TH 2,571,302

SAMPLER FOR HIGHLY RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES- Filed June 3, 1949 5Sheets-Sheet 2 l l J INVENTOR. Wql/ery QJm/zh BY W. Q. SMITH SAMPLER FORHIGHLY RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES Qct. 16, 1951 Filed June 3, 1949 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Waverly Q. Sm/fh A me ws-v Patented Oct. 16,1951 SAMPLER FOR HIGHLY RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES Waverly Q. Smith,Charleston, W. Va., assignmto the United States of America asrepresented by the United States Atomic Energy Commission ApplicationJune 3, 1949, Serial No. 96,949

12 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for withdrawing samples of highlyradioactive materials, in particular, liquids, from bulk storage orotherwise into shielded containers or receptacles adapted to be removedand transported away, the apparatus having particular characteristicsenabling the operator to perform the operations of withdrawing andremoving the samples without danger of exposure to radiation. Theapparatus is particularly adaptable in connection with wet methods ofprocessing certain metal solutions, these solutions containing uraniumor highly active fission products resulting from atomic fisson. It isordinarily necessary to take samples from the solution at intervals forpurposes of analysis and for other reasons. The solutions cannot besafely handled by ordinary procedures usually employed for chemicalsolutions; the operator must at all times be protected from directcontact with the solution and there must always be a barrier interposedbetween the solution and the operator to prevent the operator from beingexposed to radiation.

In its preferred form the invention embraces a novel arrangement ofshielding containers or housings so arranged that it is possible totransfer a sample of liquid solution from bulk, that is, from a reactor,for example, to a sample container within a shielding housing but,nevertheless, in a way such that the operation can be viewed by theoperator, the sample receptacle then being placed in a transportableshield and removed from the shielding housing. The invention embracesparticular manipulative means operative from outside the shieldingcontainer or housing for effecting the necessary removal, withdrawal,and filling operations within such shielding container or housing, allof these particular arrangements and techniques being encompassed withinthe domain of my invention.

Accordingly, the object of my invention is to provide an apparatusconsisting of a shielding housing or casing having a mechanical meansoperative from outside the housing arrangement to place a transportableshielding receptacle containing a sample capsule in position forfilling, opening the shield to expose the sample contaliner, causing thesample tube to be properly filled,

and replacin the receptacle or shielding means in position.

A further object of the invention is to provide means associated withthe apparatus of the foregoing object for withdrawing the transportableshielded receptacle from the shielding housing without exposure ofoperating personnel to radiation.

A further object is to provide in association with the receptaclefilling and removal apparatus, an additional adjacent compartment havingtherein a mirror so positioned that the operator is able to View theoperation within the shielding housing or compartment without exposinghimself to radiation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a manipulating device forperforming operations within the shielding compartment from exteriorlythereof, comprising a clamping device in the form of jaws attached toand operated by a concentric sleeve and shaft attached individually torespective jaws, the sleeve and shaft bein rotatable and reciprocatableand mounted in a bushing in the side wall of the shielding compartment.

A further object of the invention in connection with the foregoingobject is a mechanism for operating the clamping device, comprising anoperatin handle for manually moving the sleeve and a stem attached tothe shaft and operative in a cam slot having a particular configurationsuch that when the sleeve is moved up and down by virtue of movement ofthe stem in the cam slot particular desired movements and clampingactions are imparted to the jaw members.

Further objects and numerous other advantages of my invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description and annexeddrawings wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the sampling apparatus,the walls as shown being of lead. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of thesampling apparatus showing in more detail the mechanism for performingoperations within the device from outside thereof. Fig. 3 is a viewtaken along the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view takenalong the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the clampingmechanism and its operating mechanism. Fig. 6 is a plan view of theoperating mechanism for the clamping device within the shieldingcompartment. Fig. '7 is a detail view of the jaws of the clamping device. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the device for withdrawing a sample ofradioactive solution within the shielding housing. Fig. 9 is a detailView of tongs used in removing the transportable receptacle from thesampling apparatus. Fig. 10 is a detail view taken along the line l0l0of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a detail view of the tones of Fig. 9 taken alongthe line Il-l| of Fig. 9.

Referring now, more particularly, to Fig. l of the drawings, theapparatus comprises generally, shielding compartments H), II, and I2,which are rectangular, compartments-ll and I2 being adjacent tocompartment [0 and open at the the apparatus, as may be seen in Fig. 1'.

top. The compartments are of lead construction so as to have properradiation shielding char acteristics. Mounted on the top of compartmentIt! is a mechanical device indicated generally by the numeral l3 foreffecting certain operations within the compartment IE1 and this devicewill be described in detail presently.

The various compartments are shown in cross section in Fig. 4. Thecompartments II and I2 are separated from the compartment ID by sidewalls I6 and H which do not extend all the way to the bottom of thestructure as may be seen in Figs. 1 and 3. In the lower part ofcompartment II is a mirror l8 mounted at an angle as shown so that anoperator looking down from the top of compartment H can view theoperations in the lower part of compartment 10. The position of themirror also can be seen in Fig. 2.

At the bottom of compartments l and I2, as may be seen in Fig. 4, thereis a sliding tray which extends entirely across the bottom of thesecompartments and which has an operating handle 2| at its end which ispositioned externally of This tray rests .on an insert tray 2IA (seeFigs. 1 and 3), which may be removed for cleaning. A bevelled piece ofshielding material 22 (see Fig. 3), which is attached to the side wallsof compartment l2 by wing nuts 23 engaging with studs as shown can beremoved to permit withdrawing tray 20 for cleaning.

At an intermediate point of the tray 20 is an upstanding cylindricalflange 25 within which is set a cylindrical shielding transportablereceptacle or container 26. The container 28 is made in two halves 21and 28, its main body being made of lead with an external steel casing.In the'lower half of container 25 there is a cylindrical cavity ordepression in which a capsule or cell of radioactive material can beplaced. The upper half of the carrier has a complementary cylindricalcavity'adapted to receive' the upper part of the capsule. In Fig. 3, theupper half of the carrier is shown resting on a supportingbracket 33extending from the side wall of compartment Hi, this bracket having anupstanding cylindrical flange 34 behind which the upper half rests. Thehorizontal part of bracket 33 has a central depending cylindricalchamber 35 in which a capsule may be placed while a sample The fillinghead 39 comprises a tube 31 having a discharge tip at its lower end andhaving its intermediate portion disposed within a jacket or sleeve 38,as shown. The filling head 39 occupies a position inthe compartment asseenin Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The upper end of tube 31 has a right anglebend and extends through the side wall of compartment [9 through amounting plate 40 (see Fig. 2) to which it is welded and which will bedescribed more in detail presently. Communicating with the jacket 38 isa tube 42 which extends through the side wall of compartment H3 and alsoextends through the mounting plate 49 in the same manner (see Fig. 2).Also connected to jacket 38 is a tube 43 which has a right angle bendand the upper end of which extends into the lower end of a tube orcylinder 45 mounted in the top of compartment [0. The tube or cylinder45 has a rubber disk fitting in its lower end and this disk normallyrests on the end of tube 0.3 forming a vacuum seal. The tube 45 has asliding fit in a bore in the top of the compartment It and it may beliftedto break the vacuum in tube 43 as will be described. The jacket 38has a disk 46 mounted thereon and a gasket 41 fits around jacket 38adjacent to this disk. As will be described, a test tube or capsule maybe lifted up and fitted over the tube 3'! and jacket 38 against thegasket 41 for drawing the sample into the test tube. The tube 3?connects to a jet or ejector for producing a vacuum within the test tubewhen it is in position, and when this vacuum is produced, it issuflicient to cause a sample of radioactive solution to be sucked intothe test tube throughthe tube 42. The lower part of the test tube fillsup until the tip of tube 31 is covered; the suction then draws liquid upinto the tube 31 maintaining the level in the tube at the tip of tube31. The jet, which is normally operated by compressed air, dischargesback to the tank being sampled, and so there is no objection to thesolutions being sucked into the jet. The vacuum in the jacket 38 and intube 3'! is controlled by the vacuum breaker 45. By lifting this memberthe tube 43 is vented and accordingly the vacuum within jacket 38 andtube 31 is broken, that is, flow into the test tube is started byplacing the vacuum breaker 45 in position. Nor- 1..- mally, a capsule isleft in position against gasket tube is being filled. The cavity inupper half 7 28 and the cavity in chamber 35 each have rubber inserts asshown to engage the top and bottom of the capsule. 36 at the top withinwhich the upper half 25 may be placed. The upper half has an operatinghandle, as shown. The upper half 28 is in the position shown in Fig. 3during the taking of a sample, and after taking the sample, the upperhalf 28 is placed over lower half 21. The capsule in the shelf 33 isthen repositioned as will be described.

As will be described presently, the upper half of the transporter orcarrier 25 may be placed.

over the lower half by the means !3 operable from outside of theshielding compartment Ill: The sliding tray 26 may be pulled out so thatthe transporter 25 is moved into compartment l2 and then, as will bedescribed presently, the entire transporter may be lifted out ofcompartment l2 by means of tongs as shown in Fig. 9.

Within the compartment It is the filling head 39 by means of which thesample or samples of radioactive material are taken from a reactor orthe like and placed in a capsule or test tube.

Lower half 21 has a flange.

4?, held there by the vacuum, to catch any drip from the filling head.

The mounting plate 49 for the filling head 36 is mounted on the back ofcompartment [0 and 1 is attached by bolts extending into holes drilledin the back wall of compartment I0 and then filled with lead after thebolts are inserted. The mounting plate is held in place by Wing nuts onthe end of the bolts, as shown in Fig. 2.

The mechanism operable from outside of compartment ID for effecting theoperations within the compartment will next be described. This mechanismis designated by numeral l3 and is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6. Theportion of this mechanism outside of compartment ID is mounted on amounting plate as shown in Fig. 1 which is attached to the top ofcompartment l by stud bolts as shown. Its relative position as respectsthe filling head 39 and the removable transporter 25 can be observedfrom Fig. 1.

ures. Bushing 56 has a collar 54 above mounting plate 55. Mounted in thebushing 56 is a tube 59 at the upper end of which is carried .a Tfitting 60 having aflanged collar 6| thereon, as shown. Surrounding thetube 59 is a helical biasing spring 62 engaged between the collar 6| andthe collar 54. Extending from one end of the T fitting 60 is anoperating handle 65. Within the tube 59 is a shaft 66 and this shaftpasses through the fitting 69 and its upper end is screw threaded andcarries thereon a shaft operating lever 68 which is secured by nut 10,as shown in Fig. 6. The shaft operating lever 68 overlies a bracket 72,mounted by welding on top of the T 68. The bracket member 12 extendsfrontwardly from the T 60 and it has upstanding sidewalls 13 and 14, thesidewall 14 being bent at an angle at its front end as shown at 15 so asto contiguously engage a flange on the shaft operating lever 68. Acurved bolt 19 extends between the side portions 13 and 15 of bracketmember 12, also passing through an upstanding portion of shaft operatinglever 68. The bolt 19 has nuts secured on its ends and mounted on thisbolt is a coil spring 3| which acts as a biasing spring normally urgingthe shaft operating lever 68 to a clockwise position as shown in Fig. 6.Stop member 82 limits movement of lever 68 to the right.

Extending to the rear, from the T 68, is a stem 83 as may be seen inFig. 3, and this stem acts as a guide, engaging in a guide slot formedin a slotted guide plate member 84, upstanding from the mounting plateto the rear of the tube 59. as shown, and it has a slot formationtherein of a configuration which may best be seen in Fig. 5. The slotformation includes a horizontal portion 85 in the middle portion ofwhich is the guide stem 83 in the position of Fig. 5. The guide slotformation includes a vertical leg or slot 81 at the right side of platemember'84 and two depending leg slot portions 88 of similarconfiguration at opposite sides of the member 84, the portion 81 being apart of the righthand slot portion 88. Both of the legs 88 have spacedhorizontal portions as shown in Fig? 5, and as will be referred to againpresently.

Within the compartment I 0 at the lower end of the tube or sleeve 59 apart of the circumference is cut away and at this end the tube" hasattached thereto one jaw 9| of a clamping device having curved jawmembers, as shown in Fig. 7. The shaft 66 carries at the lower end theother jaw 92 of this clamping device which normally'occupies a positionas may be seen in Fig. 3, the jaw members in this figure extending in adirection which would be out of the paper.

From the foregoing description of the manipulation mechanism l3, it willbe understood that it is operative to perform certain grasping orclamping and moving operations within the compartment H). The jawmembers 9| and 92 are normally in closed position as shown in Fig. 7,

being urged to this position by the biasing spring 8|. By observing Fig.5, it will be noted that if the operating handle 55 is rotated about 15degrees into the paper, the stem 83 is brought into the left verticalleg 88 of the cam slot formation in plate 84. In this position, the tube59"may be reciprocated downwardly in the bushing- 56 against the spring62 bringing guide stem 83 down to the first horizontal extension in theleft hand slot- 88. This would bring the'jaws 9t and .92 into positionto grasp the handle of the'topllaalf Member 84 has partial side flanges,

6 28 of transporter 26. The operator then, with his thumb and forefingerdraws the shaft operating lever 68 to the right, looking at Fig. 6,which operates the jaws moving jaw 92 away from jaw 9| as shown inbroken lines in Fig. 6. By manipulation of the handle 65 the jaws maythen be'brought around the handle of carrier half '28 and may then beallowed to come back together to grasp the lifting handle. The tube 59including the shaft 66 and jaw members may then be moved upwardly byoperating handle 65, moving stem 83 back into slot portion 85. Theoperating handle 65 may then be rotated with stem 83, moving in slotportion 85 until it is over into the other vertical slot portions 81 and88. By then moving the operating handle 65 downwardly, as can readily beobserved, the upper carrier half 28, maybe placed over the carrier half21.

Asmay be readily observed, by operations corresponding to the above, thetest tube may be picked up from the lower carrier half 21 and moved upto the filling head 39 for Withdrawing a sample of radioactive solution.In these operations, the guide follower stem 83 would be moved down intothe lower horizontal extension of the right leg 88 to pick up the testtube and then it would be moved up into the vertical guide slot portion81 for bringing the test tube up into contact with the gasket 41 asdescribed above.

After the sample has been taken and the upper carrier half 29 has beenplaced in position over the lower carrier half, the tray 20 is withdrawnto the position as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 3 in the mannerdescribed above. Normally after the sample has been taken and removed,the capsule or test tube shown in shelf 33 is placed against gasket 41as described above. It is to be observed that it is impossible to movethe manipulating mechanism to any undesired position. The carrier ortransporter 26 may then be removed from the compartment l2 by means ofthe tongs shown in'Fig. 9. The tongs comprise members and 96 which arepivoted together at an intermediate point as shown in detail in Fig. 10.The members 95 and 96 have bifurcated elements 91 and 98 welded thereto.A pivot pin llll extends through the legs of elements 9! and 98, asshown. The upper end of the member 95 has transverse operating handle103 and the upper end of the member 96 is formed as a bent arm,as'shown. The lower end of the members 95 and 98 are more widely spacedfrom each other, as shown, and are of similar configuration, each havingat its end an arcuate gripper element as may be seen at I05 and I 86 inFig. 11.- These arcuate grippers are arranged 'to engage underneath theflange 36 extending around the point at which the upper and lower halvesof the carrier 26 engage eachother, as may be seen in Fig. 11. Themembers 95 and 96 are normally biased toward, each other by means of thecoil spring H8 engaging on a bolt Illextending through the two membersand secured by nuts 2 and H3. From the foregoing, it will be observedthat the lower portions of the tongs may be drawn apart while the tongsare placed over the carrier 26 and then are allowed to come togetherunder the influence of the coil spring H0 so that the carrier is grippedunderneath its central band and it may then be lifted out of thecompartment l2.

"All of' the operations performed from outside of. the compartment Illby. the device I3 may be viewed by the operator who looks down through.:thecompartment ll into the mirror I8. .It is 7 to be seen that theoperation of filling th test tube with radioactive solutions andreturning-it to'its place in the carrier 26 and replacing the upper halfof the carrier 26 are performed without any danger of exposing theoperator to radiation from the radioactive materials since the leadshielding barriers are always interposed between the operator and theoperation. The carrier 26 is, itself, made of shielding material asdescribed above, and thus when it is moved into the: compartment 12, theoperator is still protected from radiation. @From the foregoing, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art, that I have provided a veryeffective and satisfactory means for effecting the operation ofwithdrawing samples of radioactive solutions and removing them forprocessing and transportation to other places for analysis. The meansfor performing the operations behind a barrier are positive, certain andeffective in operation, and are readily adaptable to many repeatedsimilar operations. By reason-of the arrangement whereby the. operatoris able to view the operation, any hazard which might be present due tospillage or other accident is eliminated. Theforegoing disclosure isrepresentative of a preferred form of my invention. Variousmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives may be adopted by thoseskilled in the artv in accordance with the principles illustratedherein, and, accordingly, it is intended that the disclosure beinterpreted in an illustrative sense and that scope of the invention begoverned by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, in

combination, means forming a radiation shielding container, means withinthe container and operable from exteriorly thereof for withdrawing asample of radioactive solutionfrom a supply thereof, -a transportableshielded receptacle in the co ntainer for receiving the sample ofsolution, said container having a second compartment communicating withthe main compartment through an opening at the lower part of thecompartments and means comprisinga sliding panel on which thetransportable receptacle rests and operable from outside of thecontainer whereby the, transportable receptacle. may be moved into thesecond compartment. 2. The structure of claim 1 including a mirrorpositioned so that images are reflected therein .from within thecontainer through an opening .therein.

3.111 apparatus of the character described, in combination, meanscomprising a radiation shielding container having means therein for,withdrawing a sample of radioactive solution from a supply thereof,said container having an auxiliary compartment adjacent the maincompartment and communicating therewith through an opening, meansincluding a mirror positioned in said auxiliary compartment adjacentsaid opening so as to reflect imagesv from the main compartment, saidauxiliary compartment having an opening whereby an operator may seereflections in said mirror, said last mentioned opening being spacedfrom said first opening .andout of the line of sightinto the maincompartment.

:4; The structure of claim. 3 including a third compartmentcommunicatingwith the main com- 'partment through an opening, a shieldedport- ;abl'e re'ceptaclewithin said container, andimeans 8 operable fromoutsidethe container for moving said receptacle into said thirdcompartment through said last mentioned opening.

5. In apparatus of the character described, in combination,meansforminga radiation shielding container having therein liquiddispensin means operable to withdraw a sample of radioactive solutionfrom a supply thereof, a, trans,- portable shielded receptacle in thecontainer adapted to receive the sample, said container having anopening in the side wall thereof for removing said receptacle,. saidopening having shielding barriers disposed adjacent it to blockradiation through the opening from within the container,v andmanipulating means within the container including an operating stemtherefor extending through a side wall of the container.

6. The structure of claim 5 including a mirror positioned to enable anoperator to view in the mirror manipulations in the container reflectedthrough an opening therein.

'7. Inapparatus of the character described, in combination, meansforming a radiation shielding container having therein liquid dispensingmeans operable to withdraw a sample of radio-active solution from asupply thereof, a transportable shielded receptacle in the containeradapted to receive the sample, said container having an opening in theside wall thereof for removing said receptacle, said opening havingshielding barriers disposed adjacent it to block radiation through theopening from within the container, andmanipulating means within thecontainer including an operating stem therefo extending through a sidewallof the container, said manipulating means comprising clampingmembers and operating means therefor comprising a concentric sleeve andshaft movable in the direction of their length and having means torotate the sleeve and the shaft relatively to operate the clamping mem-.bers.

8. In. apparatus of the character described, in

combination, means forming a radiation shielding container havingtherein liquid dispensing means operable to withdraw a sample ofradioactive solution from a supply thereof, a transportable shieldedreceptacle in the container adapted to receive the sample, saidcontainer having an opening in: the side wall thereof for removing saidreceptacle, said opening having shielding barriers disposed adjacent itto block radiation through the opening from within the container, andmanipulating means within the container including an operating stemtherefor extending through a side wall of the container, saidmanipulating means comprising clamping members and operating meanstherefor comprising a concentric sleeve and shaft movable in thedirection of their length, the sleeve and shaft being rotatable togetherand having means to rotate them relativelyto ,operate the clampingmembers and guiding means outside the container to guide thelongitudinal and rotational movements'of the sleeve and shaft.

9. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, meansforming a radiation shielding container, means for performingmanipulations within the container from outside thereof :omprising aconcentric-sleeve and shaft extending into the container through abushing in a side wall thereof, said sleeve-and shaft each having amember at its inner end mutually cooperatable to effect a clampingaction, said sleeve and shaft being, reciprocatable in the bushing inthe side wall of the, container, and means ;f or;rotatin g 9 said sleeveand shaft relatively to each other whereby a clamping action isperformed by the clamping members.

10. The structure of claim 9 including means to rotate the sleeve andshaft as a unit and guiding means outside of the container to guide thelongitudinal and rotational movements of the sleeve and shaft.

11. The structure of claim 9 including a stem extending at right anglesto the said sleeve and shaft and engaged in a slot formed in a plateparallel to the sleeve and shaft, the said slot having a configurationsuch that as the stem is moved in the slot predetermined reciprocatoryand rotational movements are imparted to the sleeve and shaft.

12. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, meansforming a radiation shielding container, liquid dispensing means thereinoperable to withdraw a sample of radioactive solution from a supplythereof, manipulating means within the container having operatingmechanism extending through the side wall thereof for 10 effectingmanipulations within the container, said container having an opening inthe side wall thereof, means comprising a mirror disposed opposite saidopening to reflect images of operations within the container, andshielding barriers providing an opening enabling an operator to viewsaid mirror from a position out of the line of sight into said firstopening.

WAVERLY Q. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,819,058 Arnold, Jr Aug. 18,1931 2,477,648 Piggot et a1 Aug. 2, 1949 OTHER REFERENCES Industrial andEngineering Chemistry, vol. 41, No. 2, Feb. 1949, pgs. 228-238.

1. IN APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, IN COMBINATION, MEANSFORMING A RADIATION SHIELDING CONTAINER, MEANS WITHIN THE CONTAINER ANDOPERABLE FROM EXTERIORLY THEREOF FOR WITHDRAWING A SAMPLE OF RADIOACTIVESOLUTION FROM A SUPPLY THEREOF, A TRANSPORTABLE SHIELDED RECEPTACLE INTHE CONTAINER FOR RECEIVING THE SAMPLE OF SOLUTION, SAID CONTAINERHAVING A SECOND COMPART-